Easy Dump Recipes

Dump Pasta DishPhoto byM Henderson

Even if you're a wonderful cook who loves to impress family and friends with multi-course sit-down meals, sometime you just want to throw a bunch of ingredients together and hope it's fit to eat.

In comes the dump recipe. A dump recipe is one with few instructions. You basically just put everything together in a pot and maybe heat it up, or cook it for 4 hours. It's a fun way to cook with easy preparation.

These dump recipes use pantry items you may have at home to make something scrumptious even though you are short on time and/or patience. Included are an appetizer, soup, salad, entree, and dessert, so you can dump a whole 5-course meal or dump one of them for lunch or dinner.

Spicy Guacamole Dip

Prep time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 large, ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 small onion, roughly chopped
• 1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (keep seeds in for more spice)
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• dash of salt
• pinch of sugar

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients together in a blender.

Serves 6.

Creamy Crab Bisque

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 oz. canned or fresh crabmeat
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cans evaporated milk
• Hot sauce, to taste

Directions

1. Add soups, heavy cream, and milk to a saucepan and mix well.
2. Bring pot to a boil, then reduce to simmer.
3. Add crabmeat. Mix well.
4. Remove from heat. Season with hot sauce, if desired.

Serves 4.

Feta Cheese Salad

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup olive oil
• 2/3 cup red or white wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, crushed and finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh, chopped or dry basil
• 1 teaspoon fresh, chopped or dry oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon sugar
• Lettuce
• 1/2 cup Feta cheese

1. Combine first 8 ingredients in a bowl or small pitcher.
2. Pour over lettuce and toss well.
3. Sprinkle Feta cheese on top.

Serves 6.

Macaroni Beef

Prep time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 tablespoon chopped onion
• 2 1/2 cups macaroni, uncooked
• 1 (16 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups water
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Grated cheese, optional

1. Brown ground beef and chopped onion.
2. Add rest of ingredients, except cheese, and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, or until macaroni is cooked.
4. Stir well.
5. Top with cheese, if desired.

Serves 4.

Strawberry Delight

Prep time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 can strawberry pie filling
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
• 1 small can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
• 1 container Cool Whip®

Directions

1. Mix together first 5 ingredients.
2. Blend in Cool Whip®.
3. Refrigerate before serving.

If you're going to serve Strawberry Delight for dessert, dump it first and put it in the refrigerator. It will be perfect for eating right after the main course.